Theme park

Mini Europe

by Vincent
written by Vincent

The theme park of Mini-Europe is one of outstanding quality where all the countries in the European Union are represented here in 1:25 scale models of buildings of socio-cultural, historic and symbolic interest.
The 6 acre wide park includes the Acropolis of Athens, Danish houses from the days of the Vikings, Leuven town hall, the austere monastery of El Escorial commissioned by Philip II to the northwest of Madrid, houses lining Amsterdam’s canals (17C), the English city of Bath which is a masterpiece of 18C town planning, the Pompidou Center in Paris etc.

There is here definitely something for everybody’s taste: Lovers of history, enthusiasts of the European Union, people remembering their latest journey, people preparing their next tour or simply people having a nice stroll.

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Here are the photos of just about all the 1:25 scale models featured in Mini-Europe by Country and alphabetic order:

Austria

Melk Abbey

Belgium

Alden Biesen

Antwerp Town Hall

Belfrey and Halles of Bruges

Berlaymont

Celles Veves Castle

Dinant Collegiate

Gent

Grand Place City Hall (Model took 19 000 hours of work valued at 350 000 €)

Tapis de Fleurs Grand Place

Flower Carpet of La Grand Place viewed from another angle

Curtis House of Liège

Leuven Town Hall

Bulgaria

Monastery of Rila

Cyprus

Limassol

Czech Republic

Prague old Town Hall

 

Denmark

Copenhagen new harbour

Stock exchange of Copenhagen

Finland

Olavinlinna Castle

France

Arc de Triomphe

Arc et Senans

Chenonceaux

Clos Vougeot

Eiffel Tower

Sacre-Coeur at Montmartre

Centre Georges Pompidou

Notre-Dame-du-Haut at Ronchamps

Germany

Berlin

Brandenburger

Bonn

Eltz

Lubeck

Spire Cathedral

Wies Church

Trier Porta Nigra

Greece

Athens Parthenon

Acropolis

Hungary

Budapest

Szechenyi Baths

Ireland

Cashel St.Patrick Rock

Glendalough Ballydavid

Italy

Alberobello

Campanile of Pise

Great Romanesque Cathedral of Pise

Siena’s Palazzo Publico

Venice

Lithuania

University of Vilnius

Luxembourg

Pont Adolphe bridge

Malta

Temple of Mnajdra

The Nederlands

Alkmaar

Amsterdam

Hoensbroek Castle

Kinderdijk Mills

Maastricht Town Hall

Orvelte

Veere

Poland

Gdansk

Portugal

Algarve

Guimaraes

Lisbon’s Torre de Belem

Porto

Romania

Mogosoaia

Slovakia

Bratislava Blue Church

Spain

El Escorial

La Mancha

Santiago de Compostela

Seville

Plaza De Toros

Sweden

Stockholm City Hall

United Kingdom

Bath

Dover

Jumbo Ferry

London Houses of Parliament

Longleat

Other Various Miniature Models

Ferris Wheel

Boat

Oil rig

On the way out going through the Spirit of Europe interactive exhibition

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Architecture

Colonial Belgian Architecture

by Vincent
written by Vincent

A few places in the center of Brussels still have remnants it’s colonial times and display Art inspired by the vegetation and animal life of the once Belgian Congo, The most recurrent theme is the banana.

As seen here on top of a building at 75 rue Antoine Dansaert

The building was erected in 1927 for Gerard Koninckx Frères an exotic fruit wholesalers by Eugene Dhuicque.

Multiple banana motifs can be seen and for a good reason, this is the fruit that made the fortune of many merchants in the beginning of the 20th century.

An attractive display of glazed stoneware

Next Building at 7 rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains displays an African woman with a full basket of various local fruits of the Congo.

Similar decoration found also on the right side

Last example of the fruitful trade in bananas is located at 34 boulevard d’Ypres. Again built for Gerard Koninckx Frères, this pretty Art Deco building was decorated with golden fruits & bananas on top of the columns of it’s facade.

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bars and cafés

Mappa Mundo

by Vincent
written by Vincent

In the trendy Halles St.Géry area the Mappa Mundo café is a popular hang with a cosmopolitan crowd set inside a cozy and warm extravagant decor. The terrace is always packed with people in the summertime. Though it features a good selection of beers the Cocktails menu is quite limited but the excellent Caipirinhas, Strawberry Margaritas and Mojitos which are sold by the glass or liter make up for it.

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The Mappa Mundo café from the outside

The entrance door seen from inside

On one side of the café you can find a more laid back and cosy section

From the back

The main bar section made of marble

Sitting at the other end of the café with its exterior totally opened

Another view from the stairs leading to the 1st floor

Upstairs section of the Mappa Mundo bar

Even more intimate section in the back

Looking at place Saint Géry from outside the window

Back downstairs

Last glimpse from outside of Mappa Mundo bar leaving

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Parks

Parc Malou

by Vincent
written by Vincent

The Parc Malou with its 20 acres is the largest park of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert but also the oldest. Amoung other things It features the Moulin Lindekemale (old mill), The Château Malou (Castle), A large playground for children, a fishermen’s pond, walks along the rivière Woluwe (Woluwe river) and sightings of wildlife such as ducks and swans.

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Lindekemale Mill

Built downstream from the confluence of the Woluwe and Struykbeek, this former grist mill, mentioned in texts as early as 1129, used water from both of these streams to increase its power. In the 19th century, paper was also made here.

Around 1900, faced with competition from the milling industry, the managers opened the Mill Milk Bar a place where walkers stopped to quench their thirst.
Acquired by the town in 1955, this is the only mill to have survived the urbanisation of the valley. The paddle wheel was restored in 1994.

La Woluwe (river)

Marais du Struykbeek (Struykbeek pond)

The Allée du stade road crosses the park along the Marais du Struykbeek


The imposing statue of the roaring Lion by Raymond de Meester de Betzenbroeck

The road leading to tip of the large fisherman’s pond

the Malou lake from a corner

Closer look

View from across the lake

On the other side of the Étang de Pêche (fisherman’s pound)

Some of the wildlife birds living on the Lac Malou

On the lawn next of the Chateau Malou

Wild Bird Crossing

Chateau Malou

Built in 1776, as an engraved inscription notes, for Lambert
de Lamberts, a rich knighted merchant, this lovely Neoclassical
country residence stands among the foliage of around
eight hectares of property.

The chateau owes its current
name to one former owner, the Catholic politician and
financier Jules Malou (1810-1886), whose descendants gave
it to the town in 1951. It was transformed into a cultural
centre and since 1972 has housed the Gallery for Lending
Art Words which promotes contemporary visual artists.

ducks and swans returning into the pond

Path across the park

A large playground at one end of the Park called the Chalet Malou

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bars and cafés

Le Roi des Belges

by Vincent
written by Vincent

Strategically located right in the trendy place Saint Géry Le Roi des Belges is a popular laid back atmosphere café with a nice terrace and some good background music. Calm during the daytime it gets quite busy and packed at night sometimes featuring a DJ. The menu offers a mix of good but simple foods for a snack, a decent choice of beers, coffee and cold drinks. At the first floor there’s a cocktail bar that has a large selection of drinks with a daily 2 for 1 happy hour starting at 18:00.

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Photo right In front of Le Roi des Belges

View from inside Le Roi des Belges café

Trappistes Rochefort

Cocktail bar at the first floor

View from the window at the first floor of Le Roi des Belges

Bartender preparing to open the Cocktail bar

People at the outside terrace

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